by Yusuf Ishaku Goje

As a matter of fact, politicians that engage in cross-carpeting are only exhibiting the unprincipled and egocentric nature of our politics…

With the countdown to next year’s general elections and the heightening of political activities; which has so far manifested itself in not too palatable ways, which is threatening the fabric of this potentially great nation of ours. It is ever evident that good governance has falling victim to the theatrics and posturing of political actors and their platforms; while this melodrama is on-going the security and welfare of the masses is facing fatal abandonment, which has sustained the unbearable hardship endured by the sole target of the purpose of politics and government.

I have always held on to the opinion that we have been plagued over the years by a  lack of true and principled political class and leadership; that is ever ready to mortgage the well-being of the masses and unity of our nation for ill-gotten wealth and inordinate power. Going down memory lane from the First Republic down to the present democratic dispensation; the same negative political posturing and issues that favor only the elites as against the masses still persist, even though the intensity and impact differ. To aggregate power; politics of: winner takes all, blackmail, ethnicity, religion, region and monetization have been mischievously introduced to stir up divisive sentiments for the benefit of selfish and parochial interests.

Today, as the case may be, we have been abashed with political tragic-drama that exposes the blind desperation of our political class both the incumbent and oppositions. Even issues that threaten to destroy the fabric of our dear country such as the general insecurity has been reduce to politics of malicious blame-trading by political attack-dogs from both sides of the divide. Other tragic-comedy that has enveloped our political space is the unprincipled vogue of cross-carpeting, and the gale of politically motivated impeachment and threat of same across the country. This has succeeded in exacerbating the already over tensed political atmosphere that is detrimental to the peaceful co-existence and stability of the country.

As a matter of fact, politicians that engage in cross-carpeting are only exhibiting the unprincipled and egocentric nature of our politics, and as well, also showing their unfaithfulness and disloyalty to the electorates and political parties that put them in power or provided a platform for them. Over the years in Nigeria, politicians have jumped from one political party to another in search of so-called political relevance and greener pastures. After taking a critical look at the situation, one is tempted to think that cross-carpeting or political flirting is a clear indication of the low level of credibility and character by some members of the political class.

The road to 2015, from the precedents so far of the political actors, seems to be covered with dangerous paths characterized by the uncontrollable desperation of our politicians, who are beating the drums of war and adopting the do or die mentally in readiness to hold on to power or wrestle power by all means. This group of power worshippers and mongers; see power as an end in itself rather than a means to meeting the needs of the masses and building a society base on equity, fairness and justice.

A clear example of the above mentioned desperado posturing of political contestation is the activities that ensued before, during and after the Osun state gubernatorial elections on the 9^th August, 2014. Even though the elections was to a large extend peaceful; the series of verbal attacks and threat of violence between the APC and PDP is a pointer or a tip of the iceberg to what awaits us during the general elections come 2015.

Either by deliberate ploy or incapacity, our political class has pushed aside issues, ideas and ideologies that hit directly at the heart of the needs of the majority of the people, and focused their energies on primitive accumulation and raping the country blind. Campaign rallies, in the face of the reality of poverty and insecurity; are now platforms for rented crowd, dancing disco, singing, recycled broken promises and rhetoric, vilifying opponents and blame trading. While critical issues that border on the welfare of the people and the inclusive development of Nigeria are thrown to the gutters.

The brand of politics that we practice leave much to be desired where even the masses, as a result of abject poverty and ignorance, have been manipulated into being machineries for thuggery, electoral fraud, beggars, peddling sentimental rumors, power worshippers and sycophants. They are enticed with artificial smiles, handshakes, sweetened lies and are cheaply bought with stipends that barely foot the bills for a meal.

Am sorry to say, our brand of politics is that which, rather than bring development closer to the doorstep of the people, is one that leads to path of self-destruction as piloted by a political class with excessive greed for money and power.

Now looking at solutions, our salvation humanly speaking rest on the shoulders on we the victims who suffer the weight of the modern-day slavery and mal-governance perpetrated by the political class, this is the right time, not to only focus on our rights but also execute our duties and responsibilities as citizens. We must own the leadership selection and decision-making process; rather than complaining about the actions or otherwise of the political class, we should begin to be vigilant and take affirmative action in determining who governs us and most importantly how we are governed.

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– Yusuf Ishaku Goje is a Programs Officer at AIDE, Abuja.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.